Condenser



Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE HENRY TURB/ANCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR '10 CARBONDALE MACHINE COMPANY, OF CARBON DALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A C ORPORATON 0F IPENNSY'JIYANIA'l CONDENSER Application filed .Tune 22, 1932. Serial No. 618,608.

The invention is an improvement in condensers for converting gases or vapors into the liquid state by lowering of the temperature, and particularly condensers for refrigerating systems.

My improved condenser unit includes a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical condenser sections, each preferably in the form of a coil having horizontal rims, said sections being connected together in series, whereby the high velocity of gas is maintained, and a corresponding improvement in heat transfer effected. Furthermore, the arrangement reduces the number of control valves.

As one feature of the present invention, the connections to, between and from the successive coils are such that the gas enters the top of the first coil and is made to pass down through the successive runs and thence from the bottom of the coil to the top of the ad]oi n ing coil and similarly through all ofthe coils except the last coil. The gas connection from the bottom of the next to the last coil is to the bottom of the last coil. The uncondensible gases are drawn olf from the top of the last coil, while the condensate is drawn oft' from the bottom of all the coils.. Thus the non-condensible gases are swept outl of all of the first coils and in the last coil is made to flow countercurrent to such condensate as may form in the last coil.

As another feature of the present invention, drain connections are provided to draw off the condensed ammonia or the refrigerant from each coil into a header maintained a substantial distance below the lowest run of spective view of a condenser system embody- Y ing the present invention, certain of the parts being broken away.

In this specic embodiment of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of Y atmospheric condenser units, each of which includes a series of vertical coils M horizontally spaced and made up of horizontal runs or pipes 15 connected by return bends 13. The condenser units are supplied with the gas or vapor to be condensed, such as ammonia, from` an inlet header 16 having valve control branch connections 17` to the top of the first coil of each unit. The coils are connected in series and in such a manner that the gas is caused to travel downwardly in all of the coils except tlielast coil ofthe unit. F or that purpose, there are provided pipe connections 20 between the bottom of one coil and the topof the adjoining coil.

.From the bottomvof the next to the last coil,

the gas is introducedinto lthe bottom of the last coil 19 by means of a pipe connection 21. The uncondensible gases are drawn off from the top of the last coil 19 of each unit, there beingprovided for that purpose an air or foul gas header 22 extending horizontally above the coils, and having branch connections. 23 controlled by valves 24, from the top of each coil 19. f

Drain connections 25 are provided for drawing off the condensed ammonia from each coil. These connections lead to an anhydrous header 26 extending below the coils, and are controlled by suitable valves 27. The draining of the last two coils of each unit may be effected through a single drain connection as shown. The anhydrous header 26 is disposed at a substantial ldistance below the bottom of the coils,l so that the drain connections 25 and the anhydrous header remain iilled with liquid, thus providing a seal which prevents gas from ley-passing between adjoining coils.

The header 26 is connected to the foul gas header by means of a pipe 28 having a sluitable valve 30 and an outlet 31 from which the condensate is drawn. This outlet is 10- cated above the header. 26 so that the drain connections 25 and said headerl are maintained filled with condensate. f

The coils may be cooled in any suitable manner, as for insta-nce by mere exposure to the atmosphere, or by spraying or trickling water Yover them. v

I have shown only two units of the condenser, but it will be understood that there may be as many units as desired connected in parallel between the headers. J

ico

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A condenser unit including a plurality 5 of horizontally spaced vertical coils having coil to the tops of the next successive coils, in series with the bottom of the'next to the last coil connected to the bottom ofthe last coil, a gas inlet at the top of the first coil, an outlet for the uncondensible gases at the top of the last coil, and outlets for lcondensate from the bottoms of said coils.

2. A condenser unit including a plurality of horizontally spaced .vertical coils having horizontal runs, pipes connecting the bottoms of all of the coils except the next to the last coil to the tops of the next successive coils, and connecting the bottoms of the last two coils, whereby all of said coils are connected in series and the gas flows downwardly through the first coils and upwardly through the last coil, a supply connection at the top of the first coil for the gases to be condensed, a gas outlet connection at the top of the last coil for the uncondensible gases, and pipe connections for drawing ofi the condensate from the bottoms of said coils.

3. A condenser unit including a plurality of horizontally spaced Vertical coils having horizontal runs connected in series, an inlet for the gases to be condensed, an outlet for the uncondensible gases, a header extending below said coils, and drain connections from the bottoms of said coils to said header, said header being at a'fsubstantial' distance below the'bottoms of said coils, whereby said header and said drain connections are illed with condensate, forming a seal for preventing the by-passing of gases between adjoining coils. V 4. A condenser unit including a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical coils having horizontal runs, pipes connecting the bottom of each coil except the last two with the top of the next successive coil, and connecting the bottoms of the last two coils, whereby all of said coils are connected in series, an inlet connection atthe top of the Viirst` coil for the gases to be condensed, an outlet kconnection at the top of the last coil for the uncondensible gases, a headerv extending below said coils, and drain connections from the bottoms of said coils to said header, said header being at a substantial'distance belowk the bottoms of said coils, whereby said header and said drain connections are filled with condensate forming a seal preventing the bypassing of gases between adjoining coils.

5. A condenser unit comprisingV a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical coils connected in series and each having horizontal rims, a gas inlet header extending above said coils, a branch connection from said inlet header to the top of the irst coil of said unit, a gas outlet header extending above said coils, a branch connection from said gas outlet header to the last coil of said unit, a condensate header extending below said coils, and drain connections from the bottoms of' the coils to said header, said latter header being at a substantial distance below the bottoms of said coils, whereby said latter header and said drain connections are lilled with condensate forming a seal for preventing the by-passing of gases between adjoining coils.

6. A condenser unit including a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical coils connected in series, an inlet for the gases to be condensed, an outlet for the uncondensible gases, a Vheader extending below said coils, and drain connections from the bottom of S0 said coils to said header,.said header being at a substantial distance below the bottoms of said coils, whereby said header and said drain connections are iilled with condensate, forming a seal for preventing the by-passing of gases between adjoining coils.

7. A condenser unit including a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical condenser sections, pipes connecting said sectionsy in series with tliebottom of the next to the last section connected to the bottom of the last section, a gas inlet at the top of the first section, an outlet for the uncondensible gases at the top of the last section, and outlets for condensate from the bottoms of said sec- '95 tions. i

8. A condenser unit including a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical condenser sections, pipes connecting the bottoms of each of the sections except the next tothe last section to the tops of the lnext successive sections, and connecting the bottoms of the last two sections, whereby all of said sections are connected in series, and the gas flows downi wardly through the first section and upwardly through the last section, a supply connection at the top-of the first section for the gases to be condensed, a gas outlet connection at the top of the last section for the uncondensin ble gases, and pipe connections Jfor drawing 1'10 off condensate from the bottoms of said sections. Y l

9. A condenser unit including a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical condenser` sections, an inlet for the gases to be coii- '115 densed, an outlet for the uncondensible gases, a header extending below said sections, and drain connections from the bottoms of said sections to said header, said header .bein'gfatM a substantial distance below the bottoms of""12 said sections, whereby said header and said drain connections are'illed' with condensate forming a'seal for preventing the bypassing of gases between adjusting sections.

Signed at Carbondale in` the county of" Laclrawanna and' State of Pennsylvania, this 4 20th Vday of June A. D. 1932.

HENRY TORRANCE. 

